GATINEAU, Quebec, September
25, 2007 - Environment Minister John Baird
today assured Canadians appropriate funding
would be provided to priority environmental
programs and services by Environment Canada.
"Like all Canadians, I care deeply
about the state of our environment and this
country's ability to monitor, manage and
protect our precious natural resources.
Environment continues to be a top priority
of this Government as demonstrated by our
$38 million increase to the main budget
of Environment Canada," the Minister
said. "This Government is also committed
to ensuring that taxpayers' hard earned
dollars are invested and spent wisely and
efficiently. "
"In recent days there have been a
number of stories written about financial
pressures within my department. I want to
assure all Canadians that priority programs
related to all areas of the environment
are maintained," the Minister said.
"I have instructed my department to
provide the financial flexibility required
to programs and services in critical areas,
such as the Canadian Wildlife Service and
the Meteorological Service of Canada so
that they are maintained, and that there
are no layoffs of indeterminate staff."
"The current financial pressures come
from many sources, but a major factor was
the $17.1 million cut agreed to by former
Environment Minister Stéphane Dion
in 2005."
The Government of Canada has invested $375
million in funding for conservation programs,
which is the largest investment in conservation
ever. This includes $225 million for sensitive
species and ecosystems with the Nature Conservancy
of Canada, $30 million for the Great Bear
Rainforest, and millions for Stanley Park
in Vancouver and Point Pleasant Park in
Halifax. In addition, the government announced
the expansion of Nahanni National Park Reserve
and Sahoyúé - ehdacho/Great
Bear Lake in the Northwest Territories.
"Our work helps to protect the Leatherback
Sea Turtle, the Peregrine Falcon, the Woodland
Caribou, and the Piping Plover. Canadians
demand that this work continues," declared
Minister Baird. "We have invested an
additional $110 million to protect of species
at risk as well as $10 million for protected
areas in the Northwest Territories."
"Canadians should make no mistake
that this Government does what it says.
The environment is critical to all of us
and so is the financial stability of Environment
Canada," the Minister stated.
Eric Richer
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of the Environment
+ More
Canadian and U.S. Wildlife Officers Break-Up
Major Endangered Species Smuggling Ring
- Record-Breaking 27 Metric Tonnes of Meat
Confiscated
Montréal, September 26, 2007 - Environment
Canada's Wildlife Enforcement Division along
with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
and the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration fisheries officers have dismantled
a major smuggling organization of queen
conch meat, an internationally protected
endangered species. The smuggling operation
is believed to have been responsible for
illegally importing and/or exporting 119,978
kilograms (263,953 lbs, the equivalent of
nearly seven fully loaded semi trailers)
of queen conch (Strombus gigas) meat from
several Caribbean and South American countries
to Canada and the United States.
Between November and December 2006, over
27 metric tonnes of falsely declared queen
conch meat were detained by Environment
Canada wildlife officers: in Montréal,
9,886 kilograms (21,1000 lbs.), and Halifax,
17,672 kilograms (38,880 lbs.) - the largest
ever confiscations of smuggled endangered
species in this country. As well, 955 kilograms
(2,100 lbs.) were seized by U.S. officials
in Buffalo, NY in March 2006.
According to documents filed in Canadian
and American courts in September 2007, it
is alleged that between 2004 and 2006, 119,978
kilograms of protected queen conch meat
from the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica,
Honduras and Colombia was shipped to Canada
using false descriptions to avoid detection
by officials. Once in Canada, the meat was
either sold on the local market or re-packaged
- sometimes as 'whelk meat', a non-endangered
cold water species - from where it was shipped
to the United States. Charges have been
laid in Canada and the U.S. against persons
and companies located in Florida, British
Columbia and Nova Scotia. The investigation
is continuing.
Twelve charges under the Wild Animal and
Plant Protection and Regulation of International
and Interprovincial Trade Act (WAPPRIITA)
were laid against Pacific Marine Union Corp.
of Vancouver, BC and its CEO, Zamorro Gabriel
Shone, also of Vancouver, BC. First appearance
in Vancouver Provincial Court for both accused
is scheduled for 9:00 a.m. on October 10,
2007. No plea has been entered pending first
appearance in court. One charge for unlawfully
importing as well as one for exporting queen
conch contrary to the Wild Animal and Plant
Protection and Regulation of International
and Interprovincial Trade Act (WAPPRIITA)
have also been laid against Placeres and
Sons Seafood Inc., Ramon Placeres and Janitse
Martinez. A first court date has been set
for November 6, 2007 in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Under Canadian law, those charged are presumed
innocent until proven guilty.
Based on average weight per specimen, the
meat of between 798,000 and 1.05 million
individual conchs were illegally imported
into and/or exported from Canada. DNA testing
was used to positively identify the detained
shipments from 2006 as being queen conch.
Queen conch, also known as pink conch,
is protected under the Convention on International
Trade of Endangered Species of Wild Fauna
and Flora (CITES). Operation Shell Game,
an 18-month long investigation, involved
federal wildlife officers in Ontario, Quebec,
British Columbia, Nova Scotia, and Florida.
Canadian and U.S. border officials also
contributed to the investigation.
CITES is an international agreement that
regulates the trade of certain wild animal
and plant species, including their parts,
organs and derived products. In Canada,
CITES is implemented by the Wild Animal
and Plant Protection and Regulation of International
and Interprovincial Trade Act. Under that
Act, offences are punishable upon conviction
to a maximum fine of $300,000 or imprisonment
up to five years, or both. In the United
States, the Lacey Act provides for penalties
upon conviction of up to five years imprisonment
and fines up to twice the profit made, in
this case over $1 million U.S. dollars.
Environment Canada and the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service are responsible for enforcing
each country's federal laws concerning wildlife
trade including endangered and invasive
species as well as protecting species at
risk, migratory birds, and areas protected
for wildlife. To report the smuggling or
trafficking of endangered species or any
infraction of federal wildlife law, the
public is invited to contact the U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service at (404) 679-7057 or
Environment Canada's Wildlife Enforcement
Division toll free at 1-800-463-4311.
Sheldon Jordan
Director, Quebec Region
+ More
Environment Canada, Wildlife Enforcement
Division
Minister Baird Applauds Break-Up of Major
Endangered Species Smuggling Ring
OTTAWA, September 26, 2007 - Canada's Environment
Minister, John Baird, today released the
following statement in response to news
that Environment Canada enforcement officers,
along with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
and the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration fisheries officers, have
dismantled a major ring involved in the
smuggling of queen conch meat, an internationally
protected marine endangered species.
"This operation clearly demonstrates
the need to get tough on the killing and
smuggling of endangered species," said
Minister Baird. "The Government of
Canada is committed to do its part domestically
and internationally to stop the illegal
trafficking of species at risk. Strong enforcement
of our environmental laws will protect our
wildlife and ensure clean air, water and
green spaces for the benefit of all Canadians."
Operation Shell Game, an 18-month long
investigation, involved federal wildlife
officers in Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia,
Nova Scotia, and Florida. Canadian and U.S.
border officials also contributed to the
investigation. The smuggling operation is
believed to have been responsible for illegally
importing and/or exporting 119,978 kilograms
(263,953 lbs, the equivalent of nearly seven
fully loaded semi trailers) of queen conch
(Strombus gigas) meat from several Caribbean
and South American countries to Canada and
the United States.
"On behalf of all Canadians, I would
like to thank our enforcement officers for
the hard work they continue to do to enforce
our environmental laws. We need to be constantly
on guard to protect our endangered species,
and get tough on those who break the law."
Eric Richer
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of the Environment
